Titans Fall in Judi Garman Classic Opener

FULLERTON, CA -
Purdue's Ashley Barr finished 4-for-4 on the night while six different players tallied RBIs for the contest as the Boilermakers broke open a tight game late en route to a 10-4 victory over host Cal State Fullerton on Wednesday night at Anderson Family Field on the opening day of the 2010 Judi Garman Classic.

The loss was the 12th consecutive defeat for the Titans, who fell to 3-22 overall, while Purdue improved to 10-11 after sweeping its opening games, starting with a 12-4 victory over New Mexico earlier in the day.

Sophomore Nicole Johnson finished 2-for-4 with a pair of triples and two runs scored while Kadie Baldwin was 2-for-3 to help pace the Fullerton offense, which banged out 10 hits on the night.

Junior Ari Cervantes (1-8) suffered the loss for the Titans, allowing six earned on 11 hits in four innings of work. Redshirt freshman Katey Laban pitched the final three innings in relief, allowing three runs on three hits while walking four.

Erika Petruzzi (3-2) earned the win in relief for the Boilermakers after starter Suzie Rzegocki left after the third inning due to injury. Petruzzi allowing three runs on six hits in four innings, walking two and striking out one.

A four-run fifth inning proved to be the difference for the Boilermakers, who had their advantage cut to 3-2 after the home half of the fourth. A double by Ashley Courtney, an RBI single by Maia Monchek, and a pair of errors led to the big inning for Purdue, which tacked on a run in the sixth on a single by Barr and two in the seventh on a bases-loaded walk and a wild pitch.

Purdue opened with two runs in the third against Cervantes as Liane Horiuchi led off with a triple and scored on Molly Garst's RBI single for the 1-0 lead. Garst would then steal second and third and come around to score on Petruzzi's sac fly for the 2-0 advantage.

Fullerton got a run back in the third as Johnson tripled with one out and scored on junior Torrie Anderson's RBI single back through the box to make it a 2-1 ballgame.

Elizabeth Allum got the run back for the Boilermakers in the fourth with an RBI single that scored Monchek to make it 3-1, but the Titans responded with another run in their half of the inning as Cervantes singled to lead-off the inning, eventually scoring on sophomore Adriana Martinez's RBI single up the middle to make it 3-2.

Cal State Fullerton reached double-digit hits for the third time this season, but suffered its first loss when doing so after posting wins over Southern Utah and Baylor.

The Titans continue tournament play on Thursday night (March 18) at 6 p.m. as they host Fresno State at Anderson Family Field. Tournament play begins on both fields in Fullerton at 9 a.m.